Navigating the Global Quantum Landscape

Quantum technology represents one of the most consequential scientific and strategic developments for governments to address, now and in the future. The capacity of quantum computing to transform fields as diverse as materials science, pharmaceuticals, financial systems, and national security makes this a priority not only for researchers and industry, but for government leaders at every level. Yet the pace of global investment and innovation in quantum technology has accelerated far beyond what many in government have had the opportunity to fully absorb. Global investment in quantum technology surpassed USD 40 billion in 2024, with nations around the world committing vast public and private resources to prepare. In this environment, leveraging quantum computing for public value requires more than awareness—it calls for strategic action.

Too often, discussions of quantum technology focus narrowly on a single country or a single dimension of the technology. This report takes a broader view, analyzing five strategic elements: investment, innovation, education, security, and cooperation; and across five cases—the United States, China, the European Union, India, and Australia. The author presents a nuanced picture of global technology implementation that is both collaborative and complex. Some of the most important breakthroughs in quantum technology have emerged from international cooperation—a dynamic this report documents and builds upon.

This report provides government leaders and stakeholders with a concrete grounding in quantum policy and governance, and with an understanding of the real-world development and maturation of quantum technology itself. The quantum future does not reflect distant possibilities; current national strategies and actions have direct implications for how governments manage data, protect communications, and serve citizens.

The report’s recommendations offer a clear and actionable roadmap. They include sustained investment in quantum research and innovation; expansion of quantum training programs within government agencies to prepare the workforce; prioritization of quantum-resistant encryption to protect critical communications and infrastructure; supply chain resilience through domestic investment and strategic cooperation with partner nations; and strengthened collaboration across academic institutions, private companies, and international allies. These recommendations recognize the budgetary, organizational, and geopolitical constraints that government managers face, while demonstrating that the cost of inaction exceeds the cost of sustained engagement.

The timeliness of this report is further affirmed by two Executive Orders issued by the Trump administration on June 22, 2026. Executive Order 14412, Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks, directs federal agencies to inventory and migrate their high-value and high-impact systems to NIST-approved post-quantum cryptography standards, establishes a government-wide post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration coordination structure, and sets binding deadlines of 2030 and 2031, respectively, for keyestablishment and digital-signature transitions. It also directs engagement with critical infrastructure owners and international partners to align on quantum-resistant encryption.

In 2018, President Trump signed the National Quantum Initiative Act into law, establishing the first whole-of government strategy for American leadership in quantum technology. Executive Order 14413, Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation, expands and updates the whole-of-government strategy to accelerate the development, deployment, and commercialization of quantum computing, sensing, and networking technologies. It creates the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science effort, directs the development of an updated National Quantum Strategy, calls for expanded federal quantum workforce recruitment and training programs, directs supply-chain resilience planning, and tasks the Departments of State and Commerce with aligning international partnerships to advance and protect American leadership in quantum information science and technology. Together, these Executive Orders place quantum readiness at the center of national security and technology agendas and make the analysis and recommendations in this report more timely than ever.

For public administrators, agency leaders, and policymakers working to prepare government operations for the quantum era, this report provides a key foundation. As recently recognized by the United Nations, governments are at an inflection point with regard to quantum progress—one that will shape economic competitiveness, national security, and public services for decades to come. The United States has invested significantly in quantum technology and built strong research infrastructure, an entrepreneurial ecosystem, and international partnerships that position it well.

This report builds on a growing body of IBM Center work focused on quantum technology and its implications for government. That work includes Quantum Computing for Public Value: Insights from Australia; the chapter “Quantum Technology Challenge: What Role for the Government?” in the IBM Center book Transforming the Business of Government: Insights on Resiliency, Innovation, and Performance; and Nation- State Activity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing. Together, these publications reflect the IBM Center’s sustained commitment to equipping government leaders with the knowledge and frameworks they need to navigate the quantum landscape effectively and responsibly.